In the morning I visit family
of my wife in Sembel. After the visit, I stroll through the area. Children
are following me, asking me to picture them. "se'alena, se'alena!"
I tell them to line up in the middle of the street, and make some
pictures. When I have a few words with the neighbors, I am invited in by
one of the Sembel families to drink tea in their house.

I have been invited to join
a NGO's Independence
Day lunch in the Berhe Aiba Hotel starting at 12:30. It is a buffet lunch
in one of the cellars of the hotel.

After the lunch and a few beers I feel
free to dance for hours with the employees of the NGO, on the traditional
Eritrean music presented by the DJ of the Berhe Aiba nightclub.

It is an experience not easy to
forget. Especially I would like to thank Haile for inviting me, and
Meheret, who was my inspiration to dance again and again.

Today it is the eve of
Independence Day. Asmara's main street is crowded with ten thousands
Asmarino's gathering to feast untill midnight. Live bands are playing on
the side walks of Harnet Avenue on colorful stages.

Harnet Avenue is one large
dance floor, illuminated by light strings, where people dance, or just
walk up and down to meet friends and relatives. Bars and cafés are
chockfull with people, with no empty seat to find both inside and on their
pavements.Stalls sell shoarma, candy
floss and small snacks.

At midnight the celebrating
crowd counts down from ten to one in Tigrinya. The bells of the cathedral
perform an impressive concert with the midnight fireworks. "Yohanna
Ertra! Yohanna! Yohanna! Yohanna!", the loudspeakers on Harnet Avenue
add to the 18th symphony of Eritrean independence. A proud nation
celebrates its hard won independence on the main streets of Asmara, and I
am happy to be their guest.